CLUB STORIES & IMPACT

Real Stories, Real Impact

Every child who walks through our doors has a story — one of growth, resilience, and opportunity. Through our programs, mentorship, and community support, young people discover their strengths, build confidence, and shape brighter futures. Here, you’ll find inspiring stories of Club members, families, community members, and alumni whose lives have been transformed by the Club. These stories are a testament to the power of a safe, supportive environment where kids can learn, lead, and thrive.



Explore their journeys and see the impact of the Club in action!

"Power Hour" - Principal Maricela Brambila

Principal Maricela Brambila at the Willard Elementary School in Pasadena cannot say enough great things about the Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena. Her favorite part of the Club: Power Hour, which starts at 2:30pm. It’s when the kids at the Club can do their homework, often with help from Club staff. Parents are grateful their kids can complete most of their homework before they get home, giving parents and kids more family time together. And Power Hour delivers: Kids who have attended the Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena have higher High School graduation rates than Pasadena Unified School District overall. 

“In addition to Power Hour, the Club has incredible enrichment programs, such as music lessons, swimming lessons, sports, and field trips,” said Principal Maricela. “It’s a nurturing environment, providing a perfect balance of academic support and time for the kids to hang out with their friends.” The Willard Elementary School in Pasadena is incredibly lucky to have the Boys & Girls Club right next door; the 51 kids from Willard can easily walk right to the Club. 

Both of Principal Maricela’s two children attended Willard and were members of the Boys & Girls Club. The Club provided a perfect balance for her son who needed both structured play and homework help. Her daughter loved swimming lessons, music lessons, and computer lab time. 

“Students at Willard build a strong bond with the Pasadena Boys & Girls Club,” said Principal Maricela. “The Club has a profound positive impact on kids who attend, enough to sometimes change a child’s trajectory in life. The Club is a gift to the community.” 

Your donations will help ensure the Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena can continue to help kids in Pasadena thrive and realize their true potential.

"A Safe Place for Families" - Crystal, Club Parent

When Crystal moved to Pasadena with her husband and three kids a few years ago, she didn’t know anyone. She had a busy job and needed to find a safe place for her kids after school. A neighbor suggested she try the Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena. “I was worried the Club would be too expensive with three kids,” said Crystal. She met with Mario, Branch Director at the Mackenzie-Scott location, and he was able to offer her family a scholarship. “They were so kind when I first came to the Club; they could not have been more helpful.”

“The program is wonderful,” said Crystal. “My kids get their homework done at the Club, and the counselors are there if they need help. My daughter, Melanie, absolutely loves the dance and art classes. Angel, my son who is 11 now, was shy when he first came to the Club; but over the last couple of years he has been involved with a number of activities like flag football, and his confidence has grown tremendously. My kids love it here because they are able to hang out with their friends, and they like the staff.” 

“What I appreciate the most” said Crystal, “is that when I am at work, I know they are getting their homework done, learning new activities and having fun. The Club gives me the helping hand when I need it most during the workday. That means there can be more fun family time when we get home.”

"Life Had Other Plans" - Mario, Director of Community Development & Partnerships

After finishing school, Mario, decided to volunteer at the Pasadena Boys and Girls Club. When he got there, he saw they were looking to hire someone full time in Maintenance. On an impulse, he decided to take the position. “The Boys and Girls Club gave me a chance in life, and I wanted to do my best,” said Mario. “I love the mission of the Club and use that to stay focused on doing a great job.” Through dedication and hard work, he moved up to the role of Branch Director at the N. Fair Oaks Club location. While Mario still has dreams of being a professional soccer coach, he knows deep down the Club is his home. 

As Branch Manager and now Director of Community Development & Partnerships, Mario meets regularly with parents, school principals, and local community leaders to talk about how the Club can help unlock the potential of the Club Kids. “When I attend back to school nights at the local schools, I answer any questions the parents might have about the Club and how their kids might participate.” Today there are 155 kids on average who come each day to the location, and the number is growing. 



“The proof of how wonderful this Club begins for me with my own two daughters.” Mario’s daughters, have been coming to the Club since they were 5 years old. He still proudly carries in his wallet their initial membership cards from when his girls first joined the Pasadena Girls and Boys Club 11 years ago. “I told my daughters that one day I am going to give these cards back to them, and at that point, they will both need to find a way to give back and support the Club.”

“The love I have for this place is hard to describe,” said Mario. “The staff and volunteers at the Boys and Girls Club in Pasadena provides our kids with amazing opportunities and helps them hone their skills to reach their full potential. Our first focus is academic success; we want each of our Club Kids to graduate High School, and hopefully go on to college. We help Club Kids find the available resources so they can dream big.”

"The Club felt like a wondrous place" - Dr. Pha Le

Club Alumni Story

Pha Le still remembers the first place in America that felt like magic.

He was only ten years old when he arrived in the United States, fleeing Vietnam with his family after the war. His father had fought alongside American troops in the hope of freedom, but the family had to leave everything behind to start over in a new country. They were forced to leave behind Pha’s two younger siblings.

Their first stops were in Virginia and later Washington State. Eventually, they made their way to Southern California and settled in Pasadena, where Pha attended local public schools. But life for Pha and his family was far from easy.

Pha and his parents lived in a garage. Money was scarce, and poverty shaped much of their daily life. Yet even during those difficult years, there was one place where he never felt poor.

The Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena Slavik Clubhouse.

A family member worked there and helped him join. To a young boy who had crossed an ocean and endured so much uncertainty, the Club felt like a wondrous place.

On Saturdays and throughout the summer, it became his world.

He spent hours swimming in the pool. There was always inexpensive, good food to enjoy with friends. He played endless rounds of Connect 4 in the games room, swam a lot in the pool, and discovered a love for drawing and art. Before long, he had also earned a reputation as a foosball champion.

Some of his favorite memories came from the Club’s Pinewood Derby. One year his car won the award for best-looking design. The next year, it was the fastest car on the track.

But the real prize was something less tangible.

At the Club, he didn’t think about living in a garage. He didn’t think about poverty or the struggles waiting at home. The Club kept him happy, protected, and healthy during those formative years. It gave him a place to belong and the freedom to simply be a kid.

Those experiences stayed with him as he grew older.

Today, Pha Le, Dr. Le to his patients, is a physician in San Diego and a leader in community health care. For many years, he was an emergency room physician at Palomar Medical Center. He has dedicated his career to helping others who need care the most. He launched two no-cost street medicine clinics in the past five years, to treat patients experiencing homelessness. As part of that work, he recruits other physicians, medical students, dentists, and other healthcare professionals to volunteer their time. The monthly street medicine clinics are supported by the nonprofit Vituity Cares Foundation.

His commitment to service doesn’t stop there. He and his wife have been volunteering for 13 years with the nonprofit Honor Flight San Diego, which organizes trips for veterans to travel to Washington, D.C. Through these trips, older veterans have a final chance to visit the memorials that honor their service and sacrifice. For the past two years, one of their two sons has joined them on the trip, continuing this family legacy. Their son now attends the U.S. Naval Academy, inspired by his experiences of service to country. Dr. Le also honors those who served by becoming a board member for the U.S.S. Midway Museum.

It’s his way of giving back—to the country that gave his family a second chance, and to the people who defended it.

But he never forgets where the journey truly began.

For Pha, the Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena was more than just a building. It was a refuge, a place to learn and make friends, and a launching point for a young refugee finding his place in a new world. He gives immense credit to the day-to-day hard work of Club staff, who consistently provided a sense of belonging and  encouragement to Pha. Without that hard, daily, unrecognized work, he wouldn’t have his own “highlight reel” of accomplishments later in life.

Pha recently had a “full circle” moment, when he returned to the Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena in November 2025 with his team from Vituity Cares. He supervised over two dozen healthcare professionals, who provided free health screenings to Club families and community members who survived the Eaton Fire. During the day-long event, he and his team provided no-cost health screenings to dozens of fire survivors.

Pha will always be grateful to the Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena, and that a “poor kid like me,” as he puts it, had the chance to experience something so extraordinary.

"The Boys & Girls Club Is Saving His Life" - Kenneth, Club Teen

Kenneth has been a member of the Club for four years and has been to three different schools in that time. All this turmoil created a difficult environment for Kenneth. He would come to the club and not participate in programs; he just had a bad attitude.  The Teen Staff took this as a challenge and knew they could help. They had a heart to heart with him and they found his motivator: food. Then they challenged him to reach his full potential. The staff worked relentlessly with him and encouraged him to participate at the Club. A few months later Kenneth's grandma came in crying wanting to speak to the Teen Staff. Kenneth went from all Ds and Fs before in high school to straight As. Kenneth's grandma told our staff that "the Boys & Girls Club is saving his life."

"The Club Boosts Confidence & Self-Esteem" - Principal Baxter

Angela Baxter, former Principal of Webster Elementary School in Pasadena wants the best for her students. She is a big fan of the Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena. “The Boys & Girls Club helps boost the confidence and self-esteem of the students who attend the afterschool programs, and encourages them to become independent young adults,” said Angela. “There are over 200 students from Willard who actively participate in the Club, and it’s remarkable to see all the activities they have that get the kids excited.”

Angela credits the staff of the Boys & Girls Club for the positive effect it has on the kids. “The staff at the Club is exemplary in their ability to connect with the children and the strong relationships they forge,” said Angela. “They are able to enrich their lives with an amazing range of programs, including photography, robotics, and many other programs that students actively seek. The kids can pick the programs and homework clubs that work best for them, giving them a significant level of autonomy.”

The location of the club is extremely convenient, being right behind the school. Kids simply walk through a gate in back and they are at the Club. “I often visit the facilities to see what the students are up to after school,” said Angela. “We have an excellent partnership and are most fortunate to be their neighbor.”

Many of the former students of Willard, now at Wilson Middle School, continue to go to the Boys & Girls Club. It is a safe place, they provide food, and most importantly, it’s a nurturing, loving environment. “My own two children regularly went to the Boys & Girls Club when they attended Willard,” said Angela.